Protector and resealer for paint cans and the like



O. H. BURT Sept. 30, 3969 PROTECTOR AND RESEALER FOR PAINT CANS AND THE LIKE Filed July 31, 1967 I NVENT OR. BY aw 5; M

#272 A/z'x'z m w d United States Patent 3,469,735 PROTECTOR AND RESEALER FOR PAINT CANS AND THE LIKE Owen H. Burt, 21039 Harvard, Southfield, Mich. 48075 Filed July 31, 1967, Ser. No. 657,136 Int. Cl. B65d 25/20 U.S. Cl. 220-90 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A combined protector and lid-reapplying tool for cans having press-on lids is formed as a ring of relatively rigid but somewhat flexible plastic which when the lid is removed clips to the top of the can in such manner as to cover and form a seal with respect to the entire top, but leave the open mouth of the can unobstructed. The ring thereby prevents any of the contents of the can, or foreign matter, from accumulating on the top of the can during use of the contents. In such position the ring forms a funnel-like mouth for the open can, and also serves as a scraping edge for a paint brush or implement, and as a pouring spout. When the ring is removed from the can and a lid is reapplied, the ring may be inverted and employed to force the lid down to tightly closed position. An axially projecting cylindrical flange of the ring is proportioned to enter the groove in the lid and serve as a tool for pushing the lid into postion by transmitting the lid-applying force to the bottom of the lid groove.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A common type of container intended for commodities such as paint is provided with a press-on lid of a type which forms a double seal on the surfaces of two spaced cylindrical walls on the lid and which project into and have a friction fit with corresponding spaced cylindrical walls defined by a grooved area on top of the can. During application, such lids act like an annular piston which is being forced into an annular closed-bottom cylinder. Inasmuch as the walls of the sealing portion of the lid are somewhat flexible and the sealing portion of the lid need not bottom in the grooved area of the can, proper application of the lid is not unduly diflicult if the sealing portions are clean and unobstructed, because the air in the groove can partially escape and/ or be trapped in the bottom of the groove, without materially interfering with application of the lid. If liquid or solid material is in the groove in any material quantity, however, application of the lid becomes virtually impossible, since such material is incompressible and is trapped in the groove. If the lid is forced down very hard into a groove filled with liquid, some will be ejected as a forcible jet before the rest is trapped, as persons who have had this unfortunate experience while attempting to reapply such lids are Well aware.

Even if the user, by exercise of extreme care keeps the top of the can clean enough, or cleans it thoroughly enough, so that reapplication of the lid is not prevented by material in the groove, reapplication of the lid is difficult if there has been any distortion of the lid or can or if care is not used, in reapplying the lid, to avoid undue localized pressure at any part of the circumference. Due to the shape of the sealing parts and the fact that they depend from the lid, closing pressure is normally exerted as a pushing force which, if too severe or if it is not in a straight axial direction, tends to bulge or spring the sealing area outwardly, so that the closing force on the lid tends to distort it and interfere with proper application.

The present invention overcomes the indicated difficulties by means of a single inexpensive ring which, when in one position in which it is used while the lid is off the can, embraces and covers the top of the can, completely preventing liquid and foreign matter from entering the sealing groove. At the same time the device furnishes an enlarged can mouth, an efiicient scraper for paint brushes or other utensils, and a spout which facilitates pouring the contents. When the ring is removed and the lid repositioned on the can, the ring is used as a tool for tightening the lid, the action being such that a pusher flange enters the groove in the lid formed by the sealing walls and functions in such manner as to pull rather than push the sealing areas of the lid into the desired closed position. By virtue of this design, the reapplication of the lid is greatly facilitated.

A related object is to provide such a device which can be manufactured at a very low cost and which is suitable for use as a sales promotional and advertising device.

The foregoing indicates in outline form the primary objects of the invention, but other objects and advantages will become apparent upon consideration of the present disclosure in its entirety.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a diametric cross section of the upper portion of a can of the press-on lid type, with the lid removed, showing my invention in cross section applied thereto in the position it occupies while the contents of the can are in use;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view on a smaller scale;

FIGURE 3 is a detailed radial section on a larger scale taken substantially on the line I IIIII of FIGURE 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 showing the lid in place and the invention in the position in which it is utilized to apply the lid, and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged detailed radial section similar to FIGURE 3 showing the invention in the lid-applying position.

Referring now to the drawing, reference character 10 designates generally a sheet metal container such as a paint can of the press-on lid type and which is indicated as of conventional construction, having a top portion generally designated 12 which is formed with a depressed closed-bottom sealing groove portion 14 defined by outer and inner spaced cylindrical walls 15, 16, respectively, the latter terminating at its top in a rolled head 18. As shown in FIGURE 4, the can is designed to receive and to be closed by a lid generally designated 20 which is initially applied at the factory and which has a downwardly projecting double walled sealing portion comprising an outer wall 21 and an inner wall 22, joined at the bottom by a bridging wall 23', such walls of the lid corresponding to and being positioned conformably to the walls 15, 16 and 14 respectively of the can top, walls 21-22 being of such spacing and diameter as to have a tight frictional fit in the groove defined by the walls 15, 16, and being slightly longer axially. Such lids are applied initially at the packing plant by means of a machine which presses the lid uniformly in a straight line and without distortion or localized stresses such as would distort the lid. At such time also the lid and the top of the can are clean and undeformed so that the installation of the lid presents no difficulties, even though it is applied by a presser which bears downwardly on its top. As indicated previously, however, application of the lid by a nonuniform, localized or nonrectilinear force exerted on top of the lid or on head 18, or any attempt to apply it if liquid or solid material is in the sealing groove 14, renders the operation extremely diflicult, sometimes impossible, and apt to result in squirting of liquid from the groove.

My improved protective and lid-applying device is preferably formed as an integral molded plastic ring having a radial dimension somewhat exceeding that of the top of the can and preferably formed of a generally rigid but somewhat flexible plastic of any suitable material such as a plastic which not only possesses the requisite physical characteristics but which will not be attacked by solvents or other contents of cans with which it is to be used. The body portion 30* of the ring has an outer holding flange 31 adapted to embrace and to bear inwardly and seal against the outer wall of the can near and overlying the top bead 11, as shown in FIGURE 1, and also has an inner holding flange 32 which underengages the head 18 and is removably frictionally and sealingly engaged therewith. The ring is thereby frictionally held in position on the can. By virtue of the annular seals formed by flanges 31 and 32 the ring completely protects the top of the can, even if contents are poured from the can with the device installed. The plastic or other material of which the ring is formed has sufficient resiliency so that the areas adjacent the holding flanges 31, 32 flex during installation and removal of the ring and so that installation and removal can be effected simply by pushing the ring onto and pulling it olf the can.

To facilitate pouring contents from the can, the inner wall is relieved in an area designated 33 to form a pouring spout.

A cylindrical anvil rib portion 35 having a fiat end 37 projects into the annular sealing well on top of the can and to a position close to bottom wall 14- When the device is installed. Another cylindrical portion 36 in substantially vertical alignment with portion 35 projects in the opposite direction and is proportioned to fit into the groove in the lid between the sealing walls 21, 22 of the latter. Flange 36 is slightly longer than the groove in the lid, in an axial direction.

In its protective position shown in FIGURE 1 the ring does not obstruct the top of the open can. 1 preferably provide a smooth funnel-like contouring to the internal walls which extend outwardly and upwardly from the area of the flange 32 to the top of portion 36. At its lower end the internal wall is provided with a relatively sharp edge 38 to assist scraping of brushes and dripping of liquid into the can.

When it is desired to reclose the can, the device is removed from the can by slightly lifting and pulling up on the outer flange 31, the material being of sufficient resiliency so that both retaining flanges 31 and 32 can be pulled ofi. The inner wall can be wiped olf before the device is removed, if desired, although this is not necessary to proper operation. The lid 20 is placed in position, and the ring is inverted, the flange 36 being inserted in the lid groove. The portion 35 then acts as an anvil or pushing surface. It is not ordinarily necessary to strike the surface 37, a simple push being sufficient to force the lid into position. The end of the flange 36 bears against the bottom wall 23 of the lid groove. Thus no force tends to distort or change the angularity of either of the Walls 21, 22 during closing and full closing movement of the lid is easily effected with relatively little force.

This detailed description of the preferred form of the invention and the accompanying drawings have been furnished in compliance with the statutory requirement to set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for reapplying to an open-topped container a press on lid of the type having an indented groove in its top defining a protrusion on the bottom adapted to interfit with the top of the container, comprising a ring having a relatively thin straight cylindrical portion proportioned to fit into the groove, said portion which fits into the groove being rigid enough compressively to act as a lid applying tool and of an axial length exceeding the depth of the groove, said portion being narrower radially than the radial Width of the groove, said device being formed of impervious material and having an annular cover portion secured to said cylindrical portion at the opposite axial end of the ring and of a radial dimension which exceeds that of the tops of containers of a predetermined size, said cover portion being sealingly engageable with inner and outer peripheral portions of such containers, and an anvil rib projecting in the opposite axial direction from said cylindrical portion.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 for use with containers of the type having a fixed annular top formed with an annular groove which is adapted to receive and frictionally engage said protrusion on the lid, the anvil rib being proportioned to enter said annular groove in the top.

3. A device as defined in claim 1 formed of relatively rigid but somewhat flexible material having distortable inner and outer peripheral flange portions overengagea-ble with said inner and outer peripheral container portions for sealing engagement therewith and to frictionally retain the device on the container.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,873,881 2/ 1959 Nichols 220-90 2,960,257 11/1-96 0 Sasse 220-90 3,225,272 12/ 1965 Vernon 220-86 3,237,802 3/ 1966 Wagner.

FOREIGN PATENTS 23 6,771 12/ 1961 Australia.

RAPHAEL H. SCHWARTZ, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 220- 

